Aftermarket shocks service intervals?

[Bobbin-Man]

On my previous GS I fitted a set of s/h Ohlins which I had serviced before fitting but didn't run the bike for long enough with them to get to the next service, I'd always expected this would be in the region of around 20,000 miles.

I'm now contemplating aftermarket shocks for my LC but I've recently been told that aluminium bodied shocks (Ohlins/Nitrons/Wilburs etc) need servicing every two years because there's an issue with the hydraulic oil being hydroscopic ... which reacts with the aluminium causing issues with the shock seals. With my mileage this would lead to a service interval of only 5,000 - 10,000 miles which I'd be struggling to justify.

Anyone have any experience of this?

 

[Neil W]

When I put Maxton shocks on my old GSA I was told that officially the service intervals for the shocks were 15,000 to 20,000 miles or every 2 years , however , they told me that if I was doing about 5000 miles a year then every 4 to 5 years would be fine for road use

 

[Bobbin-Man]

What I've been told is that the service interval is not mileage related but time related due to the hydroscopic nature of the hydraulic oil, in the same way that brake fluid is renewed every two years to prevent internal corrosion.

 

[Neil W]

I'm only repeating what I was told by Richard at Maxton .

 

[Bobbin-Man]

Thanks Neil, it's good info.
2 years is an expensive pita though!!!!

 

[malcopopolo]

i dont believe the hype about brake fluid

Put 120k miles on a car over a 6 year period and had no problems. Fleet operators very rarely authorise brake fluid change at two years for cars.

 

[Woland]

Ride more each year seems like an obvious solution?

 

[Neil W]

i dont believe the hype about brake fluid

Put 120k miles on a car over a 6 year period and had no problems. Fleet operators very rarely authorise brake fluid change at two years for cars.

Until the time that you really need the brakes and the fluid is f*cked , at work the brake fluid was done every 12,000 miles for good reason